by Jason Thomas
The Breakdown: Through the Eyes
Tuesday, March 12, 2013 | 1:30 PM
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PrintDaytona is one of the more unique races on the circuit. The sand whoops, ruts, and grass sections make for a different track than any other. An outdoor-type venue with the speedway setting also sets it apart, while Bike Week gives it a completely different atmosphere from start to finish. For the riders, “Daytoner” is the most physically demanding race and requires some revisions in bike setup. With all of these differences, I thought it would be fun to take a look at what I imagined to be going through some of the racers’ heads at various points of the race. Remember, these are just my opinions and thoughts and I am not a particularly bright individual.
Lap 1
Ken Roczen (1st): Danke Schoen for the lead, RV. This class is easy.
Ryan Villopoto (3rd): I holeshot then go off the track? Real smooth, champ. Now I have to pass Barcia. Awesome. Lots of time, though, and this track is going to look like Chernobyl by halfway.
James Stewart (6th): Really would have liked a better start, but let’s try to jump a wall or something here ASAP.
Chad Reed (7th): Great start, pal. Now I gotta pass all of these dudes. Can’t wait!
Eli Tomac (9th): Is Roczen really winning? He’s almost as gnarly as my dad. This track is rougher than it looked on TV!
Broc Tickle (12th): Yes RC, I know, I know.
Mike Alessi (18th): Where am I? Did I make a wrong turn on A1A?
"This other Ryan is really starting to piss me off." - JT$
Simon Cudby photo
Lap 5
Ryan Villopoto (1st): Time to make like Houdini. Later, homies.
Ryan Dungey (3rd): This other Ryan is really starting to piss me off.
Trey Canard (5th): Did anyone see that save in the heat race?
Davi Millsaps (12th): Mayday! I need a red flag ASAP. Anyone feel like helping me out?
Jake Weimer (15th): Dang.
Lap 10
Justin Barcia (3rd): Dungey passed me, but a podium at my first Daytona 450 race isn’t so bad. Stanton won here four times in a row, though, so I’m sure I’ll hear about it.
James Stewart (7th): I can’t jump this stupid wall and I already crashed once. Halfway?! Crap.
Chad Reed (8th): Stupid Tuff Blox. I already passed all my mates once and now have to do it again? Bugger.
Broc Tickle (9th): I’m top ten, RC! Oh, you won here five times? Okay, I’ll shut up now.
Mike Alessi (16th): Man down! When is Hangtown again?
"Dungey passed me, but a podium at my first Daytona 450 race isn’t so bad. Stanton won here four times in a row, though, so I’m sure I’ll hear about it." - JT$
Simon Cudby photo
Lap 15
Ryan Villopoto (1st): The Dunge is back there, but we’re all good. I like Daytona.
Eli Tomac (4th): This is a little more like it. I got to pass Ze German also! Bonus!
Ken Roczen (5th): Hey, Eli, was it 17 points or 18? See you at Seattle, bro.
Davi Millsaps (10th): Really wish I could get a few of these guys but it’s just not happening.
Matt Goerke (12th): That crash really blew my night but I can get Short if I push here.
Weston Peick (18th): Hey, Kiniry, you wanna finish this for me?
"Red plate me!" - JT$
Simon Cudby photo
Lap 20
Ryan Villopoto (1st): Red plate me!
Chad Reed (5th): Had a chance to be up front tonight but just wasn’t meant to be.
Trey Canard (6th): Wasn’t bad but wanted more. Did anyone see that save in the heat race?!
Ken Roczen (7th): The beginning was more fun than the end. Felt good to lead, though!
James Stewart (8th): I am better than this.
Andrew Short (12th): One of those nights. Can Indy be tomorrow?
Josh Hill (15th): Goggles are underrated and this track is a rough mofo.
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Interesting JT, I like the commentary. I would like to add some commentary from the folks who were watching the race.
Jason Lawrence- "Get some sour cream and onion chips with some dip, man, some beef jerky, some peanut butter. Get some Häagen-Dazs ice cream bars, a whole lot, make sure chocolate, gotta have chocolate, man. Some popcorn, red popcorn, graham crackers, graham crackers with marshmallows, the little marshmallows and little chocolate bars and we can make s'mores, man. Also, celery, grape jelly, Cap'n Crunch with the little Crunch berries, pizzas. We need two big pizzas, man, everything on 'em, with water, whole lotta water, and Funyons.
Josh Hansen: That's it?
That was funny,
Broc Tickle (9th): I’m top ten, RC! Oh, you won here five times? Okay, I’ll shut up now.............while up in the booth RC says if Tickle goes any slower he is going to fall over.........................
"For Sure!"
In RC's defense he only said that in regards to one turn in which he was going pretty darn slow through.
HAHAHA
Love it JT$!!!!
RC was so bad ass when he raced he didn't lose often. When he said that about Tickle I giggled my ass off, gotta feel bad for Tickle. RC was just soo good the "GOAT" !!! Pretty much can say anything he wants as far as I'm concerned.
I must say RC didn't show much love for his rider.
HA HA too funny; great article!
RC's bag on Tickle was both the sound bite of the year (good; funny as hell) and a shitty thing to say about your rider to the public (bad; demoralizing and counter-productive to Tickle)
Props localexpert - like your style:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fXFY8VLMXs
Great article JT.
I agree that RC probably shouldn't have said that on national television but lets be honest, it is piss or get off the pot time for Tickle. I don't mean to be mean to the kid because after all he is at least 10 times better than mot of us ever were or will be and has achieved more than most could have ever even hoped for so kudos for him on that but he had a lackluster 450 rookie year and came into the season with just about as good of a ride as you can get outside of a factory tent and still has yet to shine. Don't get me wrong, even contending for top 10 in this field is incredible but its Ricky Carmichael for crying out loud... I don't think he is going to be content with shooting for top 10 even if he says he is. I think we will see at least 1 new rider at RCH next year and I'd be willing to bet it's somebody who will be podium material.
RC is the GOAT on the track, no doubt about that but up in the booth, man if I didnt know it was RC I would probably wonder if this dude even raced with some of his comments he makes, either that or he is boozin' during the broadcast......Aside from the Tickle comment which was kind of funny, he said something else that I cant recall, but I remember watching the race and thinking to myself " really RC ???? "....I think he called a part of the track some weird name...and it wasnt " the hoops"....dude is a trip....Tickle can just call him fatty and say "you signed me "
I think another comment RC made that made me scratch my head was regarding Goerke....He said something like " I expected to see more from him on the 450 " while two weeks ago he was praising the dude on how well he was doing....dude is a trip....
Every week please... good stuff JT$
Weston Peick doesnt need Kiniry to finish for him.....just needs his motor to stay together.The engine started slowing down halfway thru the race so he pulled off instead of grenading the engine.
I gotta say, Tickle is a damn good guy and certainly deserves more respect than he got. He works hard, cares a ton, and gives everything he has.
He deserves an apology for sure.
you guys are clowns RC can say whatever he wants he wasnt lying if tickle dont like it he can do 2 things , he can quit or he can actually get some balls and ride like they hired him to. they invested in him not for him to be out there trail riding compared to these guys I absolutley blow but I could have railed that turn faster than he did when RC made that comment that was the slowest turn I've ever seen a pro make
@KilloMoto - I think RC's comment on Goerke was about Daytona, not the season. As RacerX said in The Notebook earlier, "Goerke was ripping in Daytona last year and nearly had a top-five finish until a late mistake. He has been riding even better this year, so a strong Daytona finish seemed inevitable—but a crash knocked him back to twelfth." In that context, Ricky's comment makes perfect sense.
RC's comment was jus matter of fact, and I don't think he was even meaning it in a "he is sucking" way. He did point out that plenty of better racers were doing the same. I doubt is disappointed with the end result as Tickle held off the then current points leader. Next time RC, just lie and puff your guy up so no one complains. Of course the same people will then call him a phony liar.
They really pay you to write this stuff!!
Some good stuff...lol. Once again it was proven that just cause you can haul on a 250 does NOT mean you can jump on a fofity and do damage....on the last laps 'the Ryans' are still makin the big dog howl.....did ya see TC's save in the heat race...
Why isn't RC down on the track/in the pits coaching his riders instead of in the booth? With all that has to be riding on this deal, I'd be going over lines and giving suggestions to my guys.
If you own the team AND you are the G>O>A>T ...you can say anything you damn well please...and if your skin is that thin (which I doubt if it even bothers an actual man only whinney little boys)...you might be in the wrong job and definitely on the wrong team....RC learned from the best...I don't think his mom or Mr Payton were known to go lightly either....maybe they do it to 'motorvate' or 'perpetrate' some better results...either way theres a BUNCH of guys better 'preperate' for ridin privateer bikes shortly.
I'm sure RC said that to motivate Tickle. To wake him up. He should be getting better results on a factory zook. He needs that intensity he had outdoors back! Go tickle!!!
He is the GOAT, and when it comes to racing bikes, yes he does walk on water. I think that you may need a reality check. Ricky has lived his whole life for racing and arguably knows more about it than anyone on the face of the earth (check his record!). Ricky practiced with the Arenacross guys at Wilkes-Barre and the AX racers admitted they had nothing for the GOAT, so the "fatman" can still ride! Please check yourself and have some respect for the best to ever put a leg over a bike! He is a living breathing legend and deserves better!
@adamact1: well said! I find it pretty ironic that someone would be so disrespectful to the GOAT for being "disrespectful" to his rider. The fact is, Tickle went through that corner so slow, it looked like if he went any slower he would fall over. Totally accurate comment. Another comment Carmichael made about Tickle at Daytona was "it looks like he is just riding around out there". I have a huge amount of respect for RC. He is honest, humble and as dedicated to the sport as any man whose ever thrown a leg over a bike. He did not make any demeaning comments about Tickle personally, he simply and honestly made an objective assessment of Broc's riding at that particular race. Hats off to him for being refreshingly honest about his own rider. In this economy, it has to be frustrating to put out the huge expense he and Cary Hart have and see one of your riders look like he's not even trying. I thought Ricky's comments were right on the money.